RU launches virtual campus tour

It's now possible to visit Radford University without physically stepping foot on campus.

RU recently launched a new virtual tour that gives users an opportunity to visit campus buildings inside and out, hear testimonials from students and faculty and experience interactive features that provide a sense of being on campus without actually traveling to Radford.

The tour, which can be accessed at http://virtualtour.radford.edu, allows prospective students to visit campus from a remote location using a desktop computer or an Internet-enabled mobile device.

"The goal of the tour is to reach prospective students and entice them to make the trip to campus," said Jaime Hunt, director of Web Strategy and Interactive Media at RU. "Having a really robust virtual tour gives them an opportunity to see what the campus is like from the comfort of their own homes."

In addition to 20 stops at various campus locations, the virtual tour features more than 160 short videos of students and two faculty members, providing details about campus life at the university. Users may go through the stops in the order provided or skip around. A pop-out map helps guide the way, and a 3D map will be added by fall, Hunt said.

More stops will be added as new construction and renovations are completed on campus.

The tour also includes additional multimedia, including videos highlighting academic programs, faculty members, student voices and research projects.

The tour is translated into Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Spanish, a feature that will be beneficial as RU works to expand its presence in Virginia, and to students throughout the United States and the world, explained Allison Pratt, director of operations for Enrollment Management.

"As we begin our recruitment for the Class of 2019, we will be sharing this tour with prospective students and their families, and the admissions counselors will be able to share this with guidance counselors who have not been able to visit campus recently," Pratt said.

The tour also provides web links for potential students to apply to RU and has the capability for visitors to share the tour with friends and family on social media.

"The virtual tour provides the Undergraduate Admissions Office with a tool to share campus with students around the world," Pratt noted. "We know that a prospective student who experiences the beauty and sense of community on our campus is likely to choose Radford University, and this tour will allow us to share on any device the beauty of campus, our students’ stories and our facilities."

The tour also is ideal for alumni who have not visited campus recently to see the many changes that have taken place at their alma mater, including the new College of Business and Economics building and the numerous improvements to residence halls. "They could see the gorgeous residence hall renovations made in recent years," Hunt noted.